Twins rebuild starting lineup for second half

DENVER -- The Twins aren't even sure who will occupy the last two spots in their starting rotation once the second half opens, so the process of resetting the pitching order is even trickier than usual.

With Opening Day starter Ricky Nolasco landing on the disabled list this week and replacement Kris Johnson lasting just four innings Friday night, the Twins are considering all options to fill in after right-handers Phil Hughes, Kevin Correia and Kyle Gibson -- in no particular order.

"They're all going to have an extra day or so, but you try not to make it where one guy has eight or nine days," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You know it's going to happen. We'll try to set it up as best we possibly can. We have a pretty good idea what we're at."

Gibson would have the longest layoff (eight days' rest) once July 18 rolls around after beating Seattle on Wednesday. Thursday starter Yohan Pino was optioned back to Triple-A Rochester, but his next start there couldn't come until Thursday at the earliest because of the Triple-A all-star break.

Correia and Hughes start the final two games of the first half Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and could stay in that order once the second half opens. Then again, the Twins could keep Hughes on normal rest, having him face the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, then let everyone else slot in behind.

That last statement raises the intriguing possibility of Trevor May or Alex Meyer getting a call-up from Rochester to start Friday. May, coming off a calf strain, was tentatively scheduled to start Sunday for the Red Wings, but he hadn't pitched since June 21, so pitch count could be an issue.

Meyer, who was erratic before getting on a roll lately, replaced May on the U.S. roster for the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday at Target Field. Tom Kelly, Twins special assistant to the general manager, will manage the U.S. team, giving him a behind-the-scenes look at how ready Meyer might be for his big-league debut.

Meyer would have to be added to the 40-man roster. May would not.

There will be more conversations with GM Terry Ryan and pitching coach Rick Anderson before this issue is resolved.

Taking reliever Sam Deduno out of the bullpen, where he has been very effective, and putting him back in the rotation, where he was less effective this year, would seem to be a lesser option.

Diamond released

The Twins released Triple-A left-hander Scott Diamond after he went 4-7 with a 6.53 earned-run average in 17 outings for Triple-A Rochester.

Diamond, 27, led the Twins with 12 big-league wins in 2012 but struggled badly last season (6-13, 5.43 ERA) after surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow.

Suzuki to return

Twins all-star catcher Kurt Suzuki was expected to return to the lineup Sunday after a scheduled off day.

Suzuki fouled a ball off his left heel bone in the fifth inning Friday night and was in obvious pain for close to two minutes before staying in the game.

Suzuki remains on pace to make 118 starts at catcher, his most since averaging 129 starts from 2008-11 for the Oakland A's.

Briefly

Center fielder Byron Buxton sat out Friday's game for Class A Fort Myers after being pinch-hit for in the late innings Thursday, but there are no injury concerns as he works back from a left wrist aggravation. ... Class A Cedar Rapids right-hander Kohl Stewart, the No. 4 overall pick in 2013, rebounded after being ejected in his previous start. He gave up one run on six hits and no walks over six innings to improve to 2-5 on Friday for the Kernels. ... Right-hander Jake Reed, a fifth-round pick out of Oregon, was promoted to Cedar Rapids from Elizabethton.